Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:-
Frank was born at Newfield near Binchester, Durham in 1909. He was the youngest son of William and Mary Jane (nee Gardner).
Mary’s first husband was Henry Gray whom she married in 1887 when she was only 16 years old. After his death in 1894 she married William Graham in 1896 who accepted her son, Joseph William Gray as part of the new family. They went on to have a further 7 children together. Frank’s siblings were Mary Ellen, Catherine, Thomas, Nora, Edward, Frederick and Francis. There was also stepson Joseph William Gray living with them at 6 Stonebank Terrace, Newfield near Bishop Auckland.
Father William was a coal miner hewer as was his stepson Joseph.
In April 1942 marriage banns were read for Frank at the Garrison Church of St George, Bordon, Hampshire where he was stationed. His bride to be was Queenie Elizabeth Georgina Hart. Unfortunately, within a few weeks of their marriage Frank was killed in Libya.
Various internet military records show Frank listed on several casualty/missing lists. In fact, there was one report that he had been interned in Sweden whilst another noted he had been a prisoner of war in 1943 the year after his death.
Frank fought in the Palestine campaign. He is listed as having fought with the 1st battalion but seems he was later transferred to the 7th.
The Eighth Army's advance fuelling stations and airfields were at Acroma, El Adem, El Duda, Sidi Rezegh and Gambut, while by February 1941, Gazala aerodrome, taken from the Italians early in the campaign, housed two Commonwealth squadrons. Knightsbridge was thus a key position, and the pivot on which the armour manoeuvred during the heavy fighting which commenced in late May 1942. Fierce actions were fought at all these places, and a battlefield cemetery was created at each for the burial of the dead.
Frank is buries at Knightsbridge War Cemetery where his headstone reads:- Eternal rest give unto him, O Lord. May he rest in peace. Amen
Frank Graham is remembered at Middridge on M51.01 and at Shildon on S122.02
